Three-time Grammy winner and Padma Shri awardee Ricky Kej has composed the background score for Papa Buka, a historic film that is Papua New Guinea’s first-ever official entry to the Oscars. The film, directed by three-time National Film Award winner Dr. Biju (Bijukumar Damodaran), is competing in the Best International Feature Film (Tok Pisin) category.
Kej expressed immense pride in the project, noting the collaboration between India and Papua New Guinea. The film tells the story of Indian historians who are searching for an indigenous World War II veteran to uncover forgotten secrets. For the score, Kej delved into raw tribal music, indigenous instruments, jungle sounds, and natural soundscapes to create a subtle and historically rich musical backdrop.
A Portfolio of Purpose-Driven Music
Known for his commitment to projects with a strong social impact, Kej has built an impressive body of work. His previous collaborations with Dr. Biju include the 2023 anti-war film, Adrishya Jalakangal. He also composed the music for the National Award-winning documentary Wild Karnataka (2020), narrated by Sir David Attenborough, and the Hollywood film MR-9: Do or Die (2023).
His most recent album, Gandhi: Mantras of Compassion, was created with Nobel Peace Prize laureate Kailash Satyarthi and more than 200 musicians from 40 countries. While he has not yet composed for Bollywood, Kej explains that his choices are guided by his values. He stated that he would love to compose for Hindi films but will not do “item numbers or misogynistic songs,” attributing his three Grammy wins to staying true to his musical identity. His upcoming project is titled Wild Tamil Nadu.
The cast of Papa Buka features Sine Boboro, John Sike, Ritabari Chakraborty, and Prakash Bare in leading roles.